You bet this is good

Linton Weeks feels that the evolution of language has caused people to forget the polite phrases that used to be common in English. He believes that as children, people were taught to use polite words like “please,” “thank you,” and “you're welcome.” However, as time as passed, people here these words much less. By using several reports and surveys, and specific peoples' examples, Weeks shows the level of respect has deteriorated over time for many people.

Weeks starts with asking readers to listen to the conversations surrounding them. He points out that the most common polite words are missing from most conversations we hear nowadays; thank you and please. He brings up a woman who has noticed the decline of use of polite words and states that she blames it on the “casual.” She blames the casualness of society for the lack in use of polite words. She believes that through the casual traditions of society today, words that used to carry respect are now no longer being used because they seem too polite; people don't use them as much anymore. This person's example brings to the picture what Weeks stated in his thesis.

Weeks moves on to talk about the evolution of polite words. He gives the example of “you're welcome” turning into words like “you bet” and “enjoy.” He argues that the words now used to replace these words “do not carry the same sentiment” as the original word or phrase. This example of one changing word again proves his thesis. We can prove this for ourselves by comparing how many times we hear “you're welcome” to how many times we hear “you bet.”

Weeks brings in psychiatrist Gregory E. Smith and tells his opinion about changing ways. Smith brings in the aspect of behaviour as well as language. He claims that it is rare for people to make the eye contact that used to be so important and what parents used to pressure their children about. Research done by Rasmussen Reports showed that about 76 percent of people said “Americans are becoming more rude and less civil.” This report shows the majority of a place saying that people were becoming much less polite, which supports Weeks in his opinion of changing behaviours.

Through these strong opinions, examples, and researches, Weeks' thesis on politeness evolving to casual words is strongly supported. It is shown that people think language and behaviour has truly evolved into something that is taken too lightly, and that people should go back to teaching their children how to show manners and respect to the people around them through a simple thing as language.